Today: Modern poetry is often characterized by its free verse and unregulated style.

1600s: While the Church of England was the dominant religious body in Britain, poets often evoked Greek and Roman gods in their poetry, as Jonson does when his speaker compares his lady's kisses to Jove's nectar.

Today: Most modern poetry is secular, or worldly, reflecting the gradual decline of the influence of religion on the arts. Religious groups, however, are becoming more politically active as the...